Stock-operated water pumping device



Sept-7,1937. .L A. SCHARF ETAL 2,092,562

STOCK OPERATED WATER `IUMPINCT DEVICE l Filed May 14, 1936 5 SheetS-Shee?l 1 v a y l a mm L@ k mlfl Sept. 7, 1937. J. A. SCHARF ET AL STOCK OPERATED WATER PUMPING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 am w ma Sept. 7, 1937. J. A. scHARF ET AL STOCK OPERATED WATER PUMPING DEVICE s sheets-sheet s Filed May 14, 1936 lllllllll lllllllllllllllklllllllllgljllllllllIlllillll` Patented Sept. 7, 1937 STOCK-OPERATED WATER PUMPING DEVICE John A. Scharf and Joseph F. Scharf,

, -Richwood, Ohio Application May 14,

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in stock-operated water pumping devices, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type by which stock, such as horses, cattle, or otheranimals, cause water to be pumped when they desire to drink, which will pump a limited amount of water from a well or other source of supply, and which will operate gates leading to and from the 4apparatus so as to insure against overcrowding on the apparatus and giving an animal opportunity to drink without molestation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which a plurality of hinged ramps may be used for operating a single pump and in which adjacent ramps are alternately operated so as to actuate the pump for the full time for each animal.

A further object is to provide `a device in which means is provided for locking a ramp against operation while the adjacent ramp is actuating the pump in its descent and in which the ascent of one ramp will releasethe adjacent ramp and thereby permit its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for restoring the ramps to their original positions when the animal on the ramp has stepped off.

`Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specication and. the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device,

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 5, certain actuating gears being included `in the view, and

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

, In carrying out our invention we provide a bottom frame consisting of side members I and 2, end members 3 and lt ,and a central member 5. Mounted on this frame are uprights 6 and rear uprights 'I on each side of the device. Front and rear uprights 6 and 'I are also provided at the center as shown in Figure 2.

Side bars 9 extend from the uprights 6 to the rear uprights 1 to provide a pair of parallel pens, in the illustration given, it being understood that more pens might be provided if desired by extending the frame and putting in duplicate uprights and side bars.

1936, Serial No. 79,764

At the rear end of each pen is hinged a gate such as that shown at IU in Figure 1. A side gate il lorms an extension to each of the pens, these gates being hinged to the uprights 6, as shown in the drawings.

A ramp I2 is provided ior each pen. The side members of the ramp I2 are extended and are pivoted on a rod I 3 which runs transversely across the pens and is carried by the frame members I, 2 and 5, as shown inthe drawings.

Each of the ramps I2 is provided with floor boards IZX, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, but Mit Will be noted from the drawings that there is an opening in the door of each ramp I2 and that these openings are lled with auxiliary ramps I4 having floor boards IAX. The auxiliary ramps are hinged to the main ramps at I5. Each auxiliary ramp has an arm I6 which is bent laterally at the top and which is connected with a spring I'I fastened to an eye I8 carried by the ramp I2. This tends to keep the auxiliary ramp in a position in which its iioor is normally inclined upwardly with respect to the normal position of the floor of the ramp I 2. An arm I9 is rigidly secured to the auxiliary ramp Ill and a rod 2i) passes through the top of the arm I9. A spiral spring 2l bears on the arm I9 at one end and against an adjustable nut 22 at the other. The end of the rod 2U is bent to enter an eye 23 on the gate I0. It will be obvious that when the ramp portion I is moved downwardly the gate Ill will be swung into a closed position.

Below the forward end of the ramp portion I4 is a V-shaped latch member 24 which is pivoted at 25 on the side of the ramp I2. This latch member has a laterally projecting pin 25 and is normally urged toward a latching position by a spring 21. A bracket 29 is secured to the side of the ramp I2.

When the ramp portion I4 is moved downwardly relative to the main ramp I2 it engages the pin 26 on the V-shaped latch member which swings the upper end of the latch member over the end of the ramp portion I4 to lock it in position parallel with the floor of the main ramp I2.

As the ramp I2 is depressed, as will be explained later, a laterally extending pin 3l on the bracket 29 will engage the arm 32 on a lever 33 pivoted at 3d and will swing it clockwise in Figure 1. The lever 33 has a link 35 which is pivotally secured to the gate II and which opens the gate il when the ramp I2 is approaching its lower position.

As the ramp I2 descends the pin 25 on the latch 24 will engage the frame member I and this will cause the retraction of the V-shaped latch 2d, thus releasing the ramp vportion I 4 which l of uprights 31 connected by cross strips 38 and having a roof 3S which houses the pump mecha.- nism and the gearing for operating it. This pump mechanism consists of a well casing 40 disposed in a well 4I or other suitable source of water. A sucker rod 42 extends downwardly, the top of this rod being secured to a link 43 (see Fig. 3) which is pivotally attached to a rocker arm 44 plvoted at 45 on a portion of the frame. The rocker arm 44 is connected by a pitman 46 with a crank 41 mounted in a shaft 48 (see Fig. 2). Rigidly secured to the crank and arranged to rotate therewith is a gear 49 in mesh with a gear 50 on a shaft 5I bearing a gear 52 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The gear` 52 is in mesh with a gear 53 on a shaft 54. Secured to the gear 53 is a. ratchet wheel 55. A hub 56 (see Fig. 4) is secured to a sleeve 51 which revolves on the shaft 54. The hub 56 bears spring-actuated pawls 56X which engage teeth 55X of the ratchet 55 to turn the shaft 54 as explained hereinafter but which will permit the rotation of the sleeve 56 in the opposite direction.

Secured at the free end of each of the main ramps I2 are cables such as that shown at 58 in Figure 1. Each cable 53 is wrapped around a drum 59 secured to the sleeve 51 and then is passed over a pulley 50 and thence to a weight 6 I.

A second cable 62 is attached to the cable 58 near the weight and passes over the pulley Bil, thence over a pulley 53 and is attached to an eye 64 on the ramp I2 where the cable 58 is also secured.

The sleeve 51 as shown in Figure 3 is mounted for revolution on the shaft 54 and the drums 59 are arranged in pairs, there being two drums (one on each side) over each ramp I2. Similarly the pulleys 66 are arranged in pairs as shown in Figure 3.

Drums 59au are secured to a second sleeve 51a on the shaft opposite the second ramp and sleeve 51 is secured to the ratchet wheel 55a so that either sleeve will cause operation of the gear 53. The mechanism in the wheel 55a is identical with that disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 for the ratchet wheel 55.

A lever 65 is rigidly secured to a shaft 66 which is in bearings 61 in the frame (see Fig. 3). This lever 65 has a shoulder 68, the purpose of which will be explained later. An arm 69 is rigidly secured to the shaft 66 to oscillate with the shaft. The arm 69 has an adjustable screw 15 (see Figure 3) which engages in recesses in a block 1I as the arm 69 is oscillated. In order to provide for this arrangement the arm 69 will give slightly in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 66.

Pivotally secured at 12 to the lever 65 is an arm 13 (see Figure 1), the upper portion of which extends through a U-shaped loop 14 secured to the end of the ramp I2. This arm has a rod 15 extending through it and also through the upper end of the lever 65. A spiral spring 15 bears at one end on the upper end of the lever 65 and at the other on a nut 11 which is adjustable along the rod so as to vary the tension of the spring 16.

From the foregoing description of the various parts the operation thereof may be readily understood. Normally as stated, the gates Il) are open as shown in Figure 1 while the gates I I are closed. Also normally the ramp section I4 is slightly raised, as shown in Figure l. An animal desiring to drink goes through the gate I8 and proceeds along the ramp section I4. The weight of the animal will cause the ramp section I4 to move downwardly and this movement will cause the closing of the gate I 0 as has been already described, through the medium of the arm I9 and the link 28. When the ramp section I4 engages the latch 24 it will be held in locked position and the further progress of the animal toward the trough 18 which, as shown in Figure 3, is positioned at the end of the runway opposite the gat-e I0, will cause the downward movement of the ramp sections I4 and I2 about the pivot rod I3. Through the medium of the cable 58 the gearing will be driven so as to cause the reciprocation of the sucker rod of the pump and water will be pumped into the trough or container 18, so that the animal may drink. At this time the hind feet of the animal are still on the ramp I4.

As the ramp I2 moves downwardly the loop 14 will slide downwardly on the arm 13 and due to the bend in the lever will cause it to swing to the right in Figure 1. This will draw the rod 15 and also will swing the upper end of the lever 65 toward the right, thus rocking the shaft 66 and the arm 69. The locking bolt 10 (see Fig. 3) on the arm 69 will move from the position shown in Figure 3 to the lower recess so as to hold the lever 65 in position until it is released as hereinafter shown.

When the lever 65 swings to the right it will rotate the rod 66 as stated and the lever 65 of the adjacent pen will be swung to the right and its shoulder 68 will enter underneath the loop 14 of the ramp I2 in the adjacent pen, thus preventing the operation of the pump by an animal in the adjacent pen when said pump is being operated by the rst animal. through the pipe 1S (see Fig. 3) and the troughs 18 are connected by a pipe 80 so that the water in both troughs is at the same height.

As the ramp portions upon which the animal is standing reach a lower position, the pin 3l on the The water flows bracket 29 will engage the arm 32 on the lever 33, thus swinging open the gate II against the tension lof the spring 8 I. The latch 24 will be released by the engagement of a lug 82 with the pin 26 and the ramp section I4 will be swung to the position shown in Figure 1 by the spring I1 when the animal leaves the ramp section. However, the gate I8 will not be closed by this action since the rod 28 which operates the gate has been moved too far to the left in Fig. 1 by the depression of the ramp I2 to permit said rod to` now cause the reverse motion of the pawl bearing plate 561 carried by the hub 5S (see Figs. 4

p and 5) allowing the pawls to ride idly vover the teeth on the interior of the member 55. As soon as the arm 32 is released the spring 8I will cause the gate II to shut and when the ramp I2 has reached its uppermost position the gate III is swung open again.

The shoulder 68 which is associated with the first ramp I2 to be operated by an animal is normally in such position that the U-shaped member 14 will not be engaged by the shoulder when said U-shaped member is carried downwardly by the moving ramp through the weight of the animal. When the rst ramp is being lowered the levers 'I3 will be pulled to the right thereby causing the lever 65 to be moved to the right so that the shoulder ii of the lever 65 associated with the adjacent ramp will be located beneath the U-shaped member "M of the second ramp so that if an animal should enter the second pen the shoulder 68 would prevent lowering ci the ramp l2 of the second pen during the time that the rst ramp was moving downwardly and thus prevent additional operation of the pump.

When the first ramp has been moved to its lowermost position and the pumping action has been completed by the downward movement of the first ramp the IJ -shaped member 'M will be moved in the inwardly curved portion l3a of the lever 713 so that the lJ-shaped member exerts a pull on the end of the lever 7f3. Therefore, the levers l, the lever 65 and likewise the rod or shaft 66 will be rocked toward the left and release the second ramp whereby the weight of the animal in the second pen will force theramp downwardly and operate the pumping mechamsm.

In other words one ramp cannot be oscillated while another ramp is being moved downwardly. As soon, however, as the ramp which has been moved to approximately the lowermost point so that the U-shaped member ld will be received by the curved portion 'I32L of the lever 'I3 the second ramp will operate since the lever dii which has been holding the ramp in an inoperative position will be released.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means whereby an animal may enter the pen and cause the rear gate lil to be closed by the downward movement or oscillation oi the auxiliary ramp ld. The weight of the animal will cause the ramp i2 to descend and maintain `the gate I closed due to the fact that the lever i9 will have moved the rod 20 too far to the left ci Fig. l against the tension of the spring 2l to permit the rising of the ramp ill to open the gate iii even if the hind feet oi the animal were removed from the ramp I4. After the animal has left through the open gate ll the ramp l2 will rise after the upward movement of the ramp lil and when the ramp l2 reaches a predetermined height sumciently to permit the rod Eil to be moved to the right the gate lll then will be open and in this way crowding of the pens will be prevented. It will be further seen that it will be impossible for a second animal to operate the pumping mechanism while the pumping mechanism is being operated by any ramp. When, however, the ramp as has been previously explained, reaches its lowermost level the other ramp will be released for descent so that the pumping mechanism will then again be actuated. When the member lll passes below the horizontal plane through the pivot or the shaft d6 it will exert a. pull on the lever 63 when it reaches the curved portion 13a so that the opposite end of the lever 65 will be positively moved to the left and force the shoulder S8 away from the U-shaped member 'M which has been holding its associated ramp in an elevated position. y

We claim:

1. A stock-operated water pumping device comprising a pen, a normally open rear gate, a normally closed iront gate, a pump, means disposed within the pen and actuated by the entrance of an animal for closing the rear gate, means within the pen for actuating the pump by the Weight of the animal, and means for automatically opening the front gate at the conclusion of the operation of the pump.

2. A stock-operated water pumping device comprising a pen, a normally open rear gate, a normally closed front gate, a pump, a main hinged ramp within the pen for operating the pulnp, an auxiliary ramp pivotally mounted on said main ramp and adapted to be actuated by the weight of an animal for closing the rear gate, and means actuated by the downward movement of the main ramp under the weight of the animal for opening the front gate.

3. A stock-operated Water pumping device comprising a pen, a normally open rear' gate, a normally closed front gate, a pump, a main hinged ramp within the pen for operating the pump, an` auxiliary ramp pivotally mounted on said main ramp and adapted to be actuated by the weight of an animal for closing the rear gate, means actuated by the downward movement of the main ramp under the weight of the animal for opening the iront gate, means for returning both ramps to their original positions when the animal has left the pen, and means for closing the front gate and for opening the rear gate during the return movement of said ramps.

4. A stock-operated water pumping device comprising a pair ofpens, a main ramp for each pen pivoted at oneend, a pump, connections between` eac-h of said ramps and the pump forl operating the pump by the weight of an animal, and means for locking one of said ramps in inoperative position while the ramp of the adjacent pen is being actuated.

5. A stock-'operated water pumping device comprising a pair of pens, a main ramp for each pen pivoted at one end, a pump, connections between each of said ramps and the pump for operating the pump by the weight of the animal,v means for locking one of said ramps in inoperative position while the ramp of the adjacent pen is being actuated and for releasing the locked ramp when. the adjacent ramp has reached a predetermined lower position.

6. A stock-operated water pumping device comprising a plurality of pens, a main ramp disposed in each Voi? said pens, each ramp being hinged at one end and constituting a runway in the pen for an animal, a pump, means` connected with each ramp for operating said pump, said means comprising a rotatable drum for each pen, a cable secured to each ramp and being wrapped around its individual drum, gearing connected with the pump and actuated by the rotation of the drum in one direction, and a counterweight connected to said cable for raising said ramp when the animal steps off from the ramp.

'7. A stock-operated water pumping device comprising a plurality of pens, a main ramp disposed in each of said pens, each ramp beinghinged at one end and constituting a runway in the pen` for an animal, a pump, means connected with each ramp for operating said pump, said means comprising a rotatable drum for each pen, a cable secured to each ramp and being wrapped around its individual drum, gearing connected with the pump and actuatedby the rotation of the drum` in one direction, and a counterweight connected to said cable for raising said ramp when the animal steps off from the ramp, said gearing including a pawl and ratchet mechanism for permitting the free rotation of the drum in the reverse direction.

JOHN A. SCHARF. .JOSEPH F. SCHARF. 

